Rig
The rig (or rigging) is the term for the entirety of mast, sails, and standing and running rigging of a sailing boat. It is classified by the number and arrangement of masts as well as by the shape of the sails.
Sail Forms
Bermuda Rig
By far the most common rig today. The mainsail is triangular and is flown between the mast and the boom. The Bermuda rig allows the best upwind performance and requires only simple bracing.
Gaff Rig
A classic rig with a quadrilateral mainsail that is attached at the top to an additional spar, the gaff. For the same mast it produces a larger sail area than the Bermuda rig but cannot point as high to the wind.
Lateen and Lugsail
Historic sail forms with an angled spar. Today found almost exclusively on traditional vessels.
Masts and Rig Types
The rig is named after the number and size of the masts.
Single-Mast Rigs
- Sloop: one mast, one headsail, one mainsail. The simplest and most common rig of modern sailing yachts.
- Cutter: one mast, but two headsails (jib and staysail). The sail area is well adjusted to changing wind strengths.
- Cat: a single mast set right forward, no headsail. Often found on dinghies such as the Optimist or Laser.
Two-Mast Rigs
- Yawl: smaller mizzen mast aft of the rudder post. The mizzen is mainly used for trim and stability.
- Ketch: smaller mizzen mast forward of the rudder post. The mizzen contributes more to drive than on a yawl.
- Schooner: forward mast shorter than or equal to the after mast. Classic rig of large sailing ships.
Multi-Mast Rigs
Three or more masts are found today only on tall ships and traditional vessels.
Components of the Rig
- Mast: the vertical support of the sails.
- Boom: horizontal spar at the foot of the mainsail.
- Spinnaker pole: spar for setting the spinnaker on downwind courses.
- Spreader: lateral spreader on the mast.
- Standing rigging: wire bracing that holds the mast.
- Running rigging: lines for setting and trimming the sails.
Choice of Rig
The choice of rig is determined by use and boat size:
- Sporty yachts and dinghies are almost exclusively Bermuda rigged.
- On longer-distance cruising yachts, ketch and yawl rigs can still be found, since the sail area is divided over several smaller sails and is therefore easier to handle.
- Gaff rigs are flown today mainly for traditional reasons on classic yachts.